Calibrachoa plant named ‘Balcabred20’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Calibrachoa  plant named ‘Balcabred20’, characterized by its medium red-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, mounded-trailing growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Calibrachoa x hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘Balcabred20’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofCalibrachoa plant botanically known as Calibrachoa x hybrida andhereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balcabred20’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in ArroyoGrande, Calif. during October 2016. The objective of the breedingprogram was the development of Calibrachoa cultivars with attractiveflower coloration, and a moderately vigorous, mounded-trailing growthhabit.

The new Calibrachoa cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. Thefemale (seed) parent of the new cultivar is Aloha Kona Dark Red‘Duealkodare’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,969, characterized by its darkred-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and moderatelyvigorous, compact, semi-upright to outwardly spreading to trailinggrowth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is theproprietary Calibrachoa x hybrida breeding selection coded 14372-1, notpatented, characterized by its medium red-colored flowers, mediumgreen-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, mounded growth habit.The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a single flowering plantwithin the progeny of the above stated cross-pollination during February2017 in a controlled environment in Arroyo Grande, Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings sinceFebruary 2017 in Arroyo Grande, Calif. and West Chicago, Ill. hasdemonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all ofthe characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retainedthrough successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedlyobserved and can be used to distinguish ‘Balcabred20’ as a new anddistinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant:

-   -   1. Medium red-colored flowers;    -   2. Medium green-colored foliage; and    -   3. Moderately vigorous, mounded-trailing growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parentprimarily in having a flower color that is a slightly lighter shade ofred, and in having a smaller diameter corolla. Plants of the newcultivar differ from plants of the male parent primarily in having amore uniform flower shape.

Of the many commercially available Calibrachoa cultivars, the mostsimilar in comparison to the new cultivar is CABARET Bright Red‘Balcabrite’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,401. However, in side-by-sidecomparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of‘Balcabrite’ in at least the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have smaller leaves than plants of        ‘Balcabrite’; and    -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have a flower color that is a        lighter shade of red than plants of ‘Balcabrite’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typicalflower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed description, which accurately describes the colors of‘Balcabred20’. The plants were approximately 7 months old and grown in3-gallon containers in an outdoor nursery environment in West Chicago,Ill. for approximately 4 months. Treatments are described below in theDetailed Botanical Description.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habitof ‘Balcabred20’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual flower of‘Balcabred20’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype mayvary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature,light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is TheR.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England,2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significanceare used. The color values were determined in September 2018 undernatural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants producedfrom cuttings from stock under conditions comparable to those used incommercial practice. The plants were approximately 7 months old andgrown in 3-gallon containers in an outdoor nursery environment in WestChicago, Ill. for approximately 4 months. Plants were given two pinches,the first at 3 weeks after cuttings were stuck and a secondapproximately 3 weeks later. Plants were treated with plant growthregulators of Daminozide at 2500 ppm and Chlormequat chloride at 750 ppmapproximately 4 weeks after cuttings were stuck. Measurements andnumerical values represent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Calibrachoa x hybrida ‘Balcabred20’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Aloha Kona Dark Red ‘Duealkodare’, U.S. Plant            Pat. No. 24,969.        -   Male parent.—Proprietary Calibrachoa x hybrida breeding            selection coded 14372-1, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.        -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 6 to 8 days.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 21 to 28            days.        -   Root description.—Fibrous.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 6 to 9 weeks from a            rooted cutting to finish in a 10 cm pot.        -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Moderately vigorous,            mounded-trailing.        -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:            Approximately 22.0 cm. Width: Approximately 63.5 cm.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, pinching enhances basal            branching. Quantity of main branches per plant:            Approximately 7.        -   Branch.—Strength: Moderate. Length: Approximately 30.0 cm.            Diameter: Approximately 3.0 mm. Length of central internode:            Approximately 3.5 cm. Texture: Densely pubescent. Color of            young stems: 146B. Color of mature stems: 146B with age            becoming woody 199A.-   Foliage description:    -   -   General description.—Fragrance: None detected. Form: Simple.            Arrangement on flowering stem: Opposite.        -   Leaves.—Aspect: At acute angle to stem with tip turning            downward. Shape: Elliptic. Margin: Entire. Apex: Broadly            acute. Base: Attenuate. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of            mature leaf: Approximately 2.0 cm. Width of mature leaf:            Approximately 0.5 mm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces:            Moderately glandular pubescent. Gland color: Colorless,            transparent. Color of upper surface of young foliage: 137B            with midvein of 146C. Color of lower surface of young            foliage: Closest to 138A with midvein of 146D. Color of            upper surface of mature foliage: 137A with NN137A, midvein            of 146C. Color of lower surface of mature foliage: 137C,            midvein of 146D.        -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 2.0 mm. Diameter:            Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Moderately glandular            pubescent. Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color: 146D.-   Flowering description:    -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balcabred20’ is freely flowering under            outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous            blooming from spring through autumn and year-round in            greenhouse environment.        -   Lastingness of individual flower on the plant.—Approximately            5 to 7 days.-   Flower description:    -   -   General description.—Type: Single, salverform. Quantity per            plant: Approximately 75. Fragrance: None detected.        -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 3 to 4 days for bud to            progress from first color to fully open flower. Quantity per            plant: Approximately 20.        -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Oblong. Length:            Approximately 1.7 cm. Diameter: Approximately 5.0 mm.            Texture: Densely glandular pubescent. Gland color:            Colorless, transparent. Color: Petal portion 59A, tube            portion 154C, venation of N92A.        -   Corolla.—Diameter: Approximately 2.9 cm.        -   Petals.—Quantity: 5, fused to form a tube. Shape: Obovate.            Margin: Entire. Apex: Rounded, occasionally shallowly            notched. Length from tube: Approximately 1.1 cm. Length of            free portion: Approximately 7.0 mm. Width: Approximately            1.5 cm. Texture of upper surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower            surface: Glandular pubescent, dense along venation. Gland            color: Colorless, transparent. Color of upper surface when            first and fully open: Closest to N45A with medium to strong            midveins of N92A. Color of lower surface when first and            fully open: Closest to 185C with midveins of N92A.        -   Corolla tube.—Length: Approximately 1.7 cm. Diameter at            distal end: Approximately 7.0 mm. Diameter at proximal end:            Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture of inner surface: Glabrous.            Texture of outer surface: Densely glandular pubescent. Gland            color: Colorless, transparent. Color of inner surface: 13A            with a small, irregular area of N77A at throat opening, and            weak to medium venation of N77A. Color of outer surface:            154D with venation of N77A.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 5, fused along lower half.            Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Length: Approximately            1.2 cm. Width: Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture of upper and            lower surfaces: Densely glandular pubescent. Gland color:            Colorless, transparent. Color of upper surface: 137A. Color            of lower surface: 138A with base of 144A.        -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong, flexible. Aspect: Acute angle to            stem. Length: Approximately 1.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately            1.0 mm. Texture: Densely glandular pubescent. Gland color:            Colorless, transparent. Color: 146C.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 5,            basifixed. Stamen length: Approximately 1.0 cm. Filament            length of fixed portion: Approximately 5.0 mm. Filament            color: 150C. Anther shape: Bilobed, ovoid. Anther length:            Approximately 1.0 mm. Anther color: 8A. Pollen amount:            Abundant. Pollen color: 8C. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1            per flower. Pistil length: Approximately 1.1 cm. Stigma            shape: Funnel. Stigma length: Less than 1.0 mm. Stigma            color: 143A. Style length: Approximately 9.0 mm. Style            color: 145B. Ovary diameter: Approximately 1.0 mm. Ovary            color: 144A.-   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has    been observed.-   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests    common to Calibrachoa has not been observed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plantnamed ‘Balcabred20’, substantially as herein illustrated and described.